Following a 2-1 loss to Racing Louisville FC on Wednesday, Seattle Reign FC will wrap up a whirlwind road trip with a Saturday afternoon visit to Kansas City. The match kicks off at 3:30 p.m. PT and will air nationally on ION.
The Current hold a three-point edge over Seattle in the table, but the Reign have one game in hand. Kansas City enters Saturday's matchup following a 2-1 loss to Gotham FC on August 14. The Current's most recent win was a 5-1 rout of Racing Louisville on July 29.
This will be the second meeting between the two clubs in 2026. The first was a 3-0 Reign victory at ONE Spokane Stadium on March 25, featuring goals from Angharad James-Turner, Brittany Ratcliffe and Maddie Mercado.
Head-to-Head
- The Reign are 7-6-1 all-time against the Current across all NWSL competitions.
- Seattle is 2-5-0 on the road against Kansas City.
- The Reign have scored 16 goals in the series, while the Current have scored 14.
2026 Record
Seattle Reign FC: 8-8-3 (27 points, 8th place)
Kansas City Current: 9-8-3 (30 points, 7th place)
Key Stats
- KC midfielder Croix Bethune is tied for the league lead with nine assists.
- Temwa Chawinga leads Kansas City with nine goals, but will not play Saturday due to an excused absence.
- The Current have conceded 28 goals, while Seattle have allowed 25.
- Kansas City have scored 31 goals; Seattle have scored 24.
- Kansas City are unbeaten in their last 27 regular-season home matches at CPKC Stadium.
- The Current have conceded in each of their last five matches.
Who to Watch
Haley Hopkins
The striker is enjoying a breakout season in her second year with the Current and fourth in the NWSL. Hopkins has tallied a career-high five goals, including three in her last four matches, and added an assist. A skilled distributor in space and an ever-threatening presence in the box, Hopkins will continue to lead the attack for KC while Chawinga remains unavailable.
Haley Hopkins ➡️ Nichelle Prince for her first goal of the season!
— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) November 2, 2025 at 1:55 PM
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HOPKINS WITH A BRACE ‼️ Haley Hopkins is unstoppable in the Teal Rising Cup 👏
— KC Current (@kansascitycurrent.bsky.social) April 12, 2026 at 4:34 PM
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Croix Bethune
Bethune has quickly established herself as one of the league's most dangerous distributors. After joining Kansas City in an offseason trade with the Washington Spirit, she wasted no time making an impact with her new club. She earned Assist of the Week honors last week for her ninth assist of the season, a half-field dish to Amelia White just 22 seconds into the match against Gotham. Bethune has also scored three goals this season.
Putting the pieces together 🧩 Croix Bethune earns Assist of the Week presented by CVS Health!
— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) August 18, 2026 at 12:47 PM
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Everyone should be talking about Croix Bethune!
— Yash (@odriozolite.bsky.social) August 21, 2026 at 12:19 PM
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Debinha
Anyone who's been around the NWSL for some time knows what Debinha is capable of. Though an early-season injury limited her availability, the Brazilian veteran has returned to her trademark efficiency and remains one of Kansas City's most dangerous attacking threats.
Michelle Cooper
Cooper is another high-production player who has been limited by injury this season. She returned from an extended absence as a substitute against Gotham and could see an increased role Saturday. The forward tallied her first career NWSL regular-season brace in her last start on July 3 against Denver Summit FC and could make an immediate impact if she receives significant minutes.
What to Watch
Set Pieces
Set pieces may be Seattle's best opportunity to exploit Kansas City's weaknesses on both ends of the field. The Current have scored the fewest set-piece goals in the league while conceding the most, making dead-ball situations a particularly appealing avenue for the Reign. Seattle have built an attack characterized by crosses and, more recently, corner kicks; they earned 13 corners against Chicago last weekend and a dozen against Racing.
Will they be able to put one away?
Though she noted that the tight turnaround between matches left little time for corrections, Reign head coach Laura Harvey believes her team is trending in the right direction.
"I think in the last game, especially against Louisville, our structure and setup was great because we actually got first contact on a lot of the set pieces that we had. It's then just execution, and we've definitely spoken about wanting to be more ruthless and clinical in those moments."
The High Press & Counterpress
Kansas City leads the league in interceptions won per match and possession won in the final third. That intensity could pose a challenge for the Reign, who are recalibrating their defensive approach as their own attacking play has evolved since the June league hiatus.
"I think what we're working on now is just shape behind the ball, now that we are a more threatening, attacking team," Reign defender Madison Curry explained. "We've found our rhythm in that sense, and now it's about suffocating the game. I think, you know, things go wrong when our lines get stretched, and that's something we're continuing to tighten up."
No Chawinga, No Problem?
Not having to face the reigning Golden Boot winner is always good news for an opponent, but Kansas City is well accustomed to stepping up in Chawinga's absence.
Current head coach Chris Armas noted that Chawinga has played roughly 40% of the team's available minutes this season and said he would rather have his players healthy for the playoff stretch.
"I think we'll be better for it in the long run. It's why we lead the league in xG. I think there's a lot of other players that understand how to score goals without some players."
First 15, Last 15
Both Seattle and Kansas City have endured similarly streaky seasons, with a high volume of wins and losses. Both teams have struggled to close out games or mount comebacks, but have generally been able to build on leads once they establish them.
Both clubs have also been scoring early lately, making the opening and closing stretches of Saturday's match particularly interesting. If either team can establish an early advantage, will it be able to hold that momentum until the final whistle?
Kit Matchup
Injury / Availability Report
Seattle Reign
OUT: Lynn Biyendolo (Maternity Leave), Jess Fishlock (Leg), Sam Meza (Thigh)
Kansas City Current
OUT: Ellie Bravo-Young (Thigh), Temwa Chawinga (Excused Absence), Alana Cook (Knee – SEI), Clare Gagne (Head – SEI), Mary Long (D-45), Laney Rouse (Knee), Kolo Suliafu (Thigh)
How to Watch
Seattle Reign FC at Kansas City Current kicks off Saturday, August 22 at 3:30 p.m. PT from CPKC Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. The match will air nationally on ION.
